Ceiling-fan



-(No ModeL) 2 SheetS)-Sh6et l.

F. H. BEBES.

CEILING PAN. N0. 492,523'. PatSIlted Feb. 28, 1893.

F. H. BBERS.

CEILING PAN.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

@Ntra STATES nTnNr einen.

FRANKLIN II. BEERS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

CEILING-FAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 492,523, dated February28, 1893. Application filed October 24, 1891. Serial No. 409,675. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN H. BEERs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, Essex county, in the State of New Jersey, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ceiling-Fans, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention is adapted to serve in offices, workshops, dwellings,restaurants and generally in any situations where it is desired toagitate the air. I operate horizontally revolving fans each by anindependent electric motor. The motor revolves rapidly in a horizontalplane on a shaft distinct from the fan shaft, and connected thereto bymechanism which increases the force, reducing, of course, the velocity.I attain an unusually eflcient fan-drivin g mechanism which may belocated in any position, independent of any other fan, and be changed inposition at will by correspondingly changing the position of theconnecting wires. It also allows great facility for slowing or stoppingthe fan, or varying the velocity of each fan independently of that ofany other fan or fans. I attain the required connection between themotor and the fan by means of pitch-chains running silently on sprocketwheels having the proper relations of size, and peculiarly faced withleather. I carry the weight of the fan-shaft by a bearing at the upperend,and support it laterally by a bearing at the bottom,both havingprovisions for efficient lubrication. The armature is of triangularsection, giving marked advantages in the construction. It works within aclosely matched casting serving as the field magnet, which nearlyincloses it and has an annular opening extending around below, thro-ughwhich arms carried on a spiderframe below reach up and support thearmature. The under face of the spider frame carries radially arrangedcommutator-plates acting against brushes which are supported on fixedlugs. The commutators and the brush, as also the field magnet and thearmature coils are properly connected to a dynamo or other source ofstrong electric current in any ordinary or suitable manner.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification andrepresent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a side elevation, a portion being broken away to reduce thelength. The remaining figures show details on a larger scale. Fig. 2 isa central vertical section through the field magnet. Fig. 3 is a centralvertical section through the bearing at the top of the motor whichsupports its weight and keeps it in position. Fig. 4 is on a smallerscale. It represents one of the sprocket wheels. Fig. 5 is a plan viewwith the top plate removed..

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they appear.

A is a horizontal plate bolted to the ceiling and forming in effect apart thereof.

A A are rigid arms extending downward from A, to which is firmly fixedby screws A2, a casting B, which serves as a field magnet, to which inturn are secured by bolts and nuts C two partial rings C C.

The general form of section of the casting B and partial rings C isshown in Fig.2. In rectangular channels around the body of the castingB, are wound the field magnet coils b. In an annular space of triangularcross-section within the field magnet casting B is mounted an armatureD,of corresponding triangular section, but sufficiently smaller to allowit to revolve without contact. A series of arms D connect this armatureto aring E2 at a slightly lower level, which latter is the periphery ofa spider-frame E mounted on the central upright shaft E, peculiarlysupported, as will presently appear. The electric current acting throughordinary connections or commutators E3 carried under the spider andring, induces a rapid rotation of the armature D, and consequently ofthe arms D', rings E2, spider E and shaft E. On this latter shaft ismounted a small sprocket-wheel E4, which through a pitch-chain F communicates a slower rotatory motion to a larger sprocket-wheel G fixed onan upright sleeve Gr and carrying at a lower level a smaller sprocketwheel G2, which by a second pitchchain H communicates a further reducedrotatory motion to a large sprocket-Wheel I. on the upper end of a shaftI, which extends downward to arms I2 provided with sockets for receivingfan-blades, not shown, which are set at the required degree ofObliquity, and firmly held by pinchingscrews J. An oilcup ICO I3 isformed on the upper side at the junction, as clearly shown in Fig; 1.

An arch A11 resting on the field magnet B, and extending across thecenter, supports a vertical pin A12 having a collar A13 which isinclosed within a cap serving as an oil cup E5 in the top of the shaft Eof lthe motor. The iield magnet B also connects through intermediatecastings A11 to a yoke A4, which connects to a cup A5, which is inpractice kept illed with oil, and forms the bottom step for the uprightshaft E. Rigidly connected to this cup, or cast in one therewith, is ahorizontal plate A6, larger than the sprocket wh eel I. This plate isconnected by rigid uprights A7 to a corresponding horizontal plate A8 ata lower level, a swell Asin the center of which furnishes a cup-shapedbearing for a collarIL1 on the shaft I. A fixed tube A9, larger than theshaft I, extends down loosely inclosin'g such shaft, and terminating bya close-fitting bearing A10, which is represented as screwed to the tubeA. This bearing dips into the oil in the cup I3.

The shaft E carrying its several attachments including the armature D,is hung upon the Xed collar A13 through the medium of a cap screwed onthe top of the shaft E, and in which cap the oil cup E5 is formed.

I will use the letter and supernumeral E5 to indicate both the cap andthe oil cupl formed in or by such cap.

The armature D is triangular in cross-section. The soft iron wiresforming the core, are wound in layers, having in each layer one lessturn than in the layer preceding, until they terminate in a single turn.The coils wound thereon are divided into sections, insulated andconnected up in the usual manner. pieces of metal firmly embracing thecore between certain of the sections of coil, and eX- tending downwardas already described, connecting this armature stiftly to the spiderframe E below. There are the ordinary provisions by commutators andbrushes, for closing and opening the circuit through the coils at theproper times to attain the rapid rotation of the armature andconsequently of the shaft E. The upper pitch-chain F communicates thismotion to the sleeve G reduced in velocity, and the lower pitch-chain Hcommunicates motion again to the shaft I, furl ther reduced in velocitybut increased in i force. This gives a proper speed and force for thefans which are attached adjustably to the arms I2 as previouslydescribed. I reduce the sound which would otherwise be produced by therapid action of the metal pitch-chains upon the sprocket-wheels bycoating the surfaces of the wheels between the spurs with leather, K,secured by dovetailing and cemventing. Fig. 4 shows one of the wheelswith the leathers in place.

I can provide one or more pulleys on the shaft I below thesprocket-wheel I and connect by round belts or other suitable means Thearms D are formed of separate from this shaft I to another, not shown,so as to drive two or more fans froml the motor here shown, but Ipropose under all ordinary conditions to avoid such connection and workeach fan independently by its own motor,

Y with the advantage that it maybe shifted into any position and may beconnected and disconnected at any moment by simply switching the currenton or off. The independent action of each also gives great facility formodifying the velocity of each according to the conditions required.Thus 1n alarge hall or other room there may be a number of my fans, partof which are working with their full force, others standing idle andothers working under various intermediate conditions.

When one fan is out of use it may stand still insteady of annoying theeye by rotating idly. This is of special importance in hospitals wherepatients may be peculiarly sensitive to annoyance from such cause.

The lower bearingA10n0t only supports the lower end of the shaft Ilaterally but also pre- 1 vents any rise of the shaft which is l1kely tobe impelled by a vigorous action of the 1nn clined wings of the fan.Theweight of the shaft when not thus sustained is supported by the upperbearing A8.

. shaft I, makes it possible to maintain angabsolutely tight oil cup atthis point.

The shaft I is received in a solid hub. I have shown it j as extendingdown a little distance, but this may be varied. There is no hole downthrough j it either for a shaft or for any other purpose.

There may be a tight casing not shown, in-

l closing the motor and the counter shaft, and t such may be madeornamental in appearance, and may serve usefully in defending thebearings and oil-cups against dust.

My provision in this independently operated fan and its motor forreducing the speed and increasing the force is important by allowing thefan tobe worked at a proper effective velocity by a very moderatecurrent. My experiments indicate that I can run thus independently anynumber of five-foot fans by the current required for acci-respondingnumber of incandescent lamps. l

I do not in this application claim the improvement in the motor, suchbeing made the subject of a separate application for patent filed as adivision of this.

I claim as my invention-- 1 1. In a ceiling fan the supporting frame AA2, the electric motor, the upright rapidly revolving shaft E andsprocket wheel E4, in combination with fan shaft I and sprocket wheel Imounted below the moto-r shaft and with the separate, shaft G andsprocket wheels G', G2, and chains F and H, the several sprocket wheelsbeing so proportioned rela'- tively to each other as to reduce thevelocity IIO and increase theforce transmitted to the fan shaft, asherein specified.

2. In a ceiling fan having an electric-motor on an upright shaft allowedto rotate ata high velocity, a fan mounted on a shaft below and anintermediate shaft with pitch chains and sprocket Wheels havingdove-tail recesses, the elastic cushions K of dove-tail form fitted inthe said recesses, all combined andarranged for joint operationsubstantially as herein specied.

3. In combination with a ceiling fan having a motor revolving at a highvelocity on an upright axis, the fixed supporting pin A12 having acollar Amand centered in the upper end of the upright shaft of themotor, and with a cap E5, carried in the said motor shaft and matchingover said collar, the cap E5 being formed into a cup above the collaradapted to supply oil for lubrication, all substantially as hereinspecified.

4. In a ceiling fan the fixed inclosing tube A9, the top bearing A8 andbottom bearing A10 in combination with the shaft I arms I2* andprovisions for connecting suitable fan-blades thereto and With theoil-cup I3 the latter performing the double function of catching thedrip and lubricating the said bottom bearing, all substantially asherein specified.

5. The ceiling fan mechanism described, having the shaft I, oil cup I3arms I2 top bearing A5, fixed tube A9 and bottom bearing A10, incombination with the revolving armature D fixed on a separate shaft, andconnecting mechanism and framing, arranged for joint operation as hereinspecified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANKLIN H. BEERS.

Vitnesses:

THOMAS DREW STETsoN, M. F. BOYLE.

